Abstract: A device for feeding blanks to a user machine, whereby the end blank of a stack of blanks housed inside a feedbox is detached from the adjacent blanks in the stack by a separating roller, which feeds the blank, transversely in relation to the axis of the stack, to a withdrawal station where it is engaged by the periphery of a rotary suction member for withdrawing and feeding the blank to a user station.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding a succession of reels of strip material to a pickup station; the reels being fed successively, and laid flat, on to a low-friction supporting surface, being centered on the supporting surface in relation to an axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface, and being lifted off the supporting surface and rolled over into an on-edge pickup position in the pickup station.

Abstract: A device for removing, from a reel of strip material, an adhesive tape secured to a peripheral surface portion of the reel via thermoplastic adhesive material; which device comprises a pair of rollers supporting the reel; one of the rollers being a drive roller for rotating the reel about its axis; at least one heating element located close to the peripheral surface of the reel and designed to substantially contact the tape; and the other roller having vacuum openings for removing the tape from the peripheral surface of the reel subsequent to the adhesive material being plasticized by the heating element.

Abstract: In a packaging machine supplied continuously with strip material fed forward by means of pinch rolls and trimmed at a cutting station, the leading end of a new strip is overlapped with the trailing end of the depleted strip at the moment of effecting a changeover; the two strips are separated, before entering the cut, by a device comprising a pair of feelers stationed between the pinch rolls and the cutting station, and capable of movement at least between an at-rest position in which the feelers remain outside the dimensional compass of the strip material, and an operating position in which the feelers are moved substantially into alignment with the leading end of the new strip in such a way as to slip beneath and detach it from the trailing end of the depleted strip.

Abstract: Intended typically for slender tear strips, the automatic splicer comprises at least two supply reels wound with respective strips, the one in use and the other a replacement, set in rotation singly or together by a common drive, and feed wheels with peripheral grooves positioned with axes normal to the axes of the reels, by which the two strips are directed into a splicing station where the trailing end of the strip uncoiling from the reel in use is joined to the leading end of the strip uncoiled from the replacement reel; the splice is effected by means of a positioning and restraining component and a reference and reaction component stationed on either side of the strip in use, which can be drawn together until the ends of the strips are fully in contact, with the leading end of the replacement strip positioned and restrained in a longitudinal groove afforded by the relative component. The ends of the strips are trimmed automatically by separate cutters.

Abstract: A method and device for bending the end tabs of blanks for producing rigid flip-top cigarette packets. The blanks are loaded on a conveyor and are fed continuously along a path with the end tabs slidably engaged in a helical slit, which is in part defined by facing helical surfaces of first and second helical guide elements. The blanks wind over an arc of 180.degree. for bending the end tabs in a U and enabling the bent end tabs to be fed between two pressure rollers of a stabilizing unit.

Abstract: A method and device for simultaneously closing a first and adjacent second box having respective lateral openings, each closed by a pair of lateral tabs, which are folded one on top of the other by a first and second folding device on either side of the two boxes; the tabs being arranged, prior to folding, facing and parallel to one another, so as to define two inner tabs and two outer tabs; and each folding device moving along a respective path for folding the outer tab of the adjacent box and the inner tab of the other box.

Abstract: A pneumatic unit for supplying products, such as chocolates or similar, in a single line to a manufacturing machine along a route defined laterally by two walls and at the bottom by a plate through which are formed a number of nozzles for a pressurized pneumatic fluid; the nozzles being arranged in at least two rows symmetrical with the route; and each nozzle in each row being so designed as to emit a jet of pneumatic fluid, at least a first portion of which is directed in a traveling direction towards the manufacturing machine, and a second portion of which is directed transversely in relation to the traveling direction and towards the other row of nozzles.

Abstract: A method of replacing a first strip with a second strip on a manufacturing machine featuring an input traction device for feeding the first strip along a route defined by a first and second portion at a given angle in relation to each other; according to which method, a lead portion of the second strip is positioned along the first route portion so as to project beyond the junction between the first and second route portions, and is accelerated up to the speed of the first strip., the first strip is then cut upstream from the first route portion and the second strip is cut by a device operating in a direction coincident with that of the second route portion, so as to simultaneously cut the second strip and feed the end so formed into the traction device.

Abstract: A device wherein at least one feedbox housing a stack of sheet elements presents a first and second wall parallel to each other, and an actuating device for moving the two walls in relation to and parallel to each other, so as to define a channel varying in width between a maximum and minimum value; the section of the channel at maximum width being approximately equal to but no smaller than the surface of the sheet element.

Abstract: A device for changing reels of strip material on a production machine, whereby a traction device unwinds a first strip off a runout reel on a supporting spindle and feeds it to the production machine along a given path; a standby reel is supported on edge on a saddle defined by two rollers; and a swing arm supports a powered disk with suction cups and a locating spindle. As the first strip runs out, the standby reel is made integral with the disk by the suction cups; the disk is accelerated so as to wind a second strip, identical to the first, off the standby reel and through a guide device by which the second strip is inserted into the traction device; and the swing arm loads the standby reel on to the axially-sliding supporting spindle in place of the empty reel.

Abstract: In a cigarette packet appearing essentially as a parallelepiped body capable of accommodating at least two groups of cigarettes enveloped in respective wrappers surrounded by at least one internal collar, the body and wrappers each exhibit a front face, a rear face and two flank faces; the individually wrapped groups of cigarettes are positioned one adjacent to the other with the relative wrappers in mutual contact by way of the broader front and rear faces rather than by way of the flanks.

Abstract: Products fed by a first conveyor at substantially constant speed along a first substantially circular path and inside respective first seats are transferred successively into respective second seats on a second conveyor by which each second seat is advanced at a speed equal to that of the first conveyor along a second path tangent to the first path; which transfer is effected by a pusher and a counterpusher cooperating respectively with the first and second conveyors, and moving both parallel and perpendicular to the respective path;the pusher moving, during transfer, both parallel and perpendicular to the second path and in time with the counterpusher.

Abstract: In a device for wrapping commodities of discoid shape, having a die by means of which to enfold each commodity initially in a tubular wrapping flush with one face of the discoid and enveloping the peripheral surface, the commodities and their wrappings are provided with rolling movement by a system incorporating wheels and a stationary guide, during the course of which successive folds of the wrapping are engaged and flattened against the top face by a set of fixed teeth.

Abstract: A product wrapping method and device for producing tubular wrappings, whereby a first and second opposite longitudinal portion of a wrapping element, folded in a U about a respective product inside a respective seat on a wrapping conveyor, project outwards through the input opening of the seat, and are folded one on top of the other into an overlapping position by a folding unit, a first fixed folding device of which folds the first portion located downstream in the traveling direction of the conveyor, and a second folding device of which, fitted to the conveyor, folds the second portion down on top of the first, and holds it in this position for a given length of time. (FIG. 1 ).

Abstract: Cigarettes are supplied to a packaging machine by equipment comprising an infeed hopper into which the cigarettes are supplied in bulk, a rotating head providing at least one compartment to accommodate a tote-box type container filled with cigarettes, from which the contents of successive containers are directed toward the hopper, and a passage directly beneath the rotating head admitting a succession of trucks each carrying several of the containers spaced apart at identical distance; the truck is propelled forward intermittently by a drive system, proceeding in discrete steps equal to the distance between centers of the containers in such a way that an elevator can operate during the pauses to shuttle the full and empty containers to and from the head.

Abstract: An output conveyor unit for rigid hinged-lid cigarette packing machines, whereby a first conveyor, consisting of a packing wheel, successively feeds the semifinished packets to respective seats on a drying conveyor, each seat having a movable wall which is moved by an actuating element as the packet is inserted inside the seat, and then released for axially compressing the packet and maintaining it in the correct drying position.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of cutouts includes a centering member for supporting members of a plurality of stacks of cutouts, the stacks being arranged mutually side by side so as to form parallel and mutually adjacent rows on the supporting members; a unit for removing and transferring individual rows, provided with a head fitted with pushers which are arranged vertically side by side and are adapted to move a single row of stacks in a horizontal transfer direction; a switching platform which is adapted to cooperate with the pushers so as to receive the row of stacks and allow its transfer to a belt for input to the packaging machine.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding and changing reels on a manufacturing machine, whereby reels of strip material arranged side by side are fed successively into a first operating position substantially coplanar to a second operating positionwherein the strip material is unwound normally. Each reel is supported in the second position by an arm which, as the reel in the second position runs out, releases the core of the empty reel, and picks up the reel in the first position; which reel has already been rotated, in the first position, by an unwinding device designed to feed the strip material on the reelin the first position at the same speed as the strip material on the reel in the second position.

Abstract: A machine for packing cigarettes in rigid flip-top packs, wherein flat blanks are fed on to a wrapping wheel and each folded about a respective preformed group of cigarettes for forming a pack having gummed mating portions; and wherein the formed packs are transferred from the wrapping wheel to the bottom end of a first substantially vertical branch of a loop conveyor, and fed upwards to an unloading station at the top end of the first branch of the conveyor, where they are fed into a stabilizing and drying conduit extending over the packing machine and about a heating device consisting of at least one lubricating oil tank on the machine.